Patrick Hickey taken to notorious Brazilian prison

Ireland’s Patrick Hickey has been denied bail and appears likely to remain in a notorious maximum security prison over the weekend as an investigation continues both here in Brazil and in Ireland into an alleged ticketing scam connected to the Olympic Games.

Hickey was arrested in a dawn raid at the Olympic Family Windsor Hotel on Wednesday (August 17) before being charged with ticket touting, forming a cartel and illicit marketing.

He was then taken to hospital as a precaution due to chest pain and remained there overnight before being taken straight to a police station yesterday for questioning.

Negotiations have taken place to keep the 71-year-old under house arrest, but, as these continue to stall, he was taken to Bangu Prison in the west of the city.

It is unlikely much progress will be made over the weekend or on Monday (August 22) due to it being a public holiday.

The jail, located in a neighbourhood around 30 kilometres north-west of the main Olympic hub at Barra de Tijuca, is the largest prison complex in Brazil.

It has a “deadly reputation” due to it being the home of some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including murders, drug traffickers and gang members.

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